Karen Mackenzie
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 12, 2007

IQALUIT - Fed up with junk mail and get-rich-quick offers, Rankin Inlet MLA Tagak Curley said the government should work to educate and protect Nunavut consumers from issues like fraud and identity theft.

Curley said his mailbox is frequently filled with flyers, and that he often receives calls from salespeople.

He called on the Consumer Affairs Division of the Department of Community and Government Services on Nov. 2 to work with appropriate partners to curb the advertisements and ensure retailers follow applicable laws and regulations.

Barnabas calls for more mental health workers

Quttiktuq MLA Levi Barnabas wants more mental health workers placed in the communities.

A community in his riding has only one, while in others the workers carry more than one job description and are often overworked, he told the legislative assembly on Nov. 2.

In response, Minister of Health and Social Services Leona Aglukkaq reported that a variety of health professionals, including social workers, travelling psychiatrists and mental health nurses are available to provide counselling services.

Nunavut is generous, but not well off

Nunavummiut are some of the most generous Canadians.

The median donation by Nunavut tax filers was $450, compared to a national average of $250, according to a recently released report by Statistics Canada.

Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo pointed to the numbers in the legislative assembly on Nov. 2. However, he noted that while Nunavut has the highest sum of donations, it comes from the smallest number of donors.

This indicates that a relatively small percentage of the population has the means to make sizable donations, while the remainder of the population struggles to make ends meet, he said.

According to Stats Canada, 1,630 donors from across the territory contributed over $2.6 million. Canadians made $8.5 million in donations over all.

Creating healthier communities

Minister of Health and Social Services Leona Aglukkaq unveiled Nunavut's first road map to public health last Tuesday.

"Developing Healthy Communities, A Public Health Strategy for Nunavut" is a community-focused, five-year plan that aims to reduce unhealthy lifestyles.

It addresses issues such as healthy birth outcomes, improving food security and decreasing the numbers of people who experience mental, physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

On Monday, Aglukkaq also released Nunavut's first Nutritional Framework for Action, which focuses on improving the nutrition and physical activity of Nunavummiut.

Nunavummiut previously relied only on the land and water for their food needs, she said. Now, they must learn to optimize all resources available, including both traditional and store bought foods.

Nunavummiut head to the games

Record numbers of Nunavummiut will head to the 2008 Arctic Winter Games, announced Louis Tapardjuk, Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.

Team Nunavut will be represented in 11 sports, including volleyball, indoor soccer, wrestling and hockey, he told the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

Every community in the territory is involved in the team selection process, he said.

Pond Inlet wants an arena

Residents of Pond Inlet want the government to provide funds for a new arena, which they say was repeatedly promised as part of the community hall recreation complex.

Tunnuniq MLA James Arvaluk presented a petition signed by 135 community members to the legislative assembly on Thursday.

Nearly lights out for energy act

Nunavut's proposed Energy Efficiency Act, which recommended the ban of sales of incandescent light bulbs in the territory, was rejected by the Standing Committee of Government Operations and Accountability on Thursday.

Committee chair and Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo said he believes the government has more important things to do than review draft regulations for light bulbs.

The act had passed second reading earlier this year before being passed to the committee for review.

In response, Minister of Energy Ed Picco requested the act be referred to the Committee of the Whole at the next sitting, which begins Feb. 18.

If passed, the ban would phase out the use of incandescent bulbs over three years to help reduce greenhouse gases.